Grating structure



Patented May 20, 1930 ,UNITED srArEs IPA'ra-r eoFFlICE HARRY NAGIiLorA rrrirsisunein PENNSYLVANIA, Assis-Non fro {rial-Lex GOMSANY,

or PITTSBURGH,-PrnNNsYnvANIA, A ConronArzoN or PENNSYLVANIA f GRATINGsTauCTURE Applicatonfled '.une 27,

This invention relates 4to grating structures, and particularly to a' self-sustaining frame work of spaced yapart members having a iller'material in the spaces between the members.. t f

Gratings generally lcomprise girder bars Iheld in spaced relation by cross bars. 'A

grating is essentially of an opencharacter and is, therefore, limited in its applications. On ythe other hand it provides a sturdy, selfsustaining structure `which may be fabricated and yshipped entire Vto the point of use.V y v I ysecure all of the advantages of a` grating structure and eliminate the disadvantages which have limited its field of usefulness by providing a filler material .which closes off the spaces between the members forming the grating structure. This filler material is preferably of such character that it may be molded in place, as for example, a rubber compound, bakelite or the like.V The filler material need not be of the entire depth of the grating, and may have its upper surface formed so as to provide an anti-slip tread. The grating members are preferably so shaped as to assist in holding the filler material in place. -F or instance, tongues may be struck up from the grating bars, or projecting heads may be formed in the sides thereof. Other. types of reinforcement may be employed.

The filler material may be of a contrasting color to the grating structure, thus giving an yappearance which is particularly desirable 'i in many applications.

My improved grating structure may be employed for use in iioors, walk-ways, stairs, thresholds, elevator sills, automobile or truck running boards or other floor structures. It

may also be employed for making partitionl walls or the like.k For these latter applications, the ller material is preferably ofv such a character that it will receive nails, screws or other holding members'.

In the accompanying drawings which il- '.lustrate the present preferred embodiment of the invention and certain modifications there- 0f;

Figure l is a top plan view ojfai grating as constructed for an auto'rnoloiie running 192'?. ySerial No. 291,702.

board, but Ibefore the filler vmaterial has been i I Figure 3 Ais a top plan view of a portion of the completed grating structure,

grating showing the filler material -in place,

Figure 5 is a similar view showing-af'mod-ified form of grating, i

Figure 6 isa perspective view showing one manner of 4providing Aaddi-.tional 'support for the `filler material, v v i t Figure 7 is a top plan view showingtheuse of reinforcing wires, and

Figures .-8 and 9 are views corresponding to F igure, v6 but showing still further mod-'iiied structures. i

Figures l to 3 inclusive show a form of grating comprising gi-rder'bars 2 connected by cross bars 3. The Kgirder bars 2 have slots formed therein, these slots having curved bottom portions. Cross bars are -forcedjinto Figure 4- is a transverse sect-ion'through a the curved slots so `as to permanently deform the cross bars and form locking tongues 4. This structure is substantially as described and claimed in my prior Fatent'No. 1,631,691, dated June '7th, '1927.

The grating shown in Figure g-l is designed for usefas an automobile running vboard and is, therefore, provided with an ,edge meinber '5 extending entirely around the grating, and connected to the :cross bars and girder bars by welding, as indicated at 6.

The grating comprises spaced apart bars defining open .cells or spaces 7. Tongues g8 are struck up fromthe longitudinal vbars of the grating, these tonguesbeing formed in the general neighborhood ofthe neutral aXis of the -iinished grating. Since the liiller ma terial possesses some strength in compression, the Vneutral axis of the finished grating is somewhat above the .neutralA aXis ofthe ilongitudinal bars. n

The cells 7 are each lil'led with a plasticlmaterial Y9 preferably molded `in place under heavy pressure. The material extends from the to of the grating down to a level indicated chain line C in'Figure 2'. The mere adherence of 'the material te the "sidsof the i grating members is sufficient to hold the filler 1 cross bars provide a positive backing.V

toms of the cross bars k8 or at the bottoms of material in place under ordinary conditions,

but the tongues v8 are helpful in providing a positive Ybacking for the material; The Welds- 6 at the eornersare somewhat rough, 'and Vthese also insure alocking engagement. y In addition'to this, the locking Vtongues L1 ofthe The locking tongues and the tonguesS are Y completelyl embedded in the filler material,

' although in some cases it may be desired tov terminate the filler material either at the 'botthe tongues' 8.

Figure 4 sliowsthe fillerV material 9 With ay corrugated'top surface 10 which provides an anti-slip structure.

'Figure 5 shows a separate antifslip material'such as silicon Vcarbide crystals V11 lying `over the top lofthe filler material V9a. The silicon carbide crystals may be readily secured inplaceby spreading them over the .surface of the mold andthen placing the plas-Y Vso tic material inv position and applying .the COmPaC'tlg pressure, v l Y Figure GshoWs a girder bar 2b having aslot 12 formedy therein. Arivet 13 Witha profi jecting lhead on either Vside'eXtends through the slot 12. The rivet heads function in much the same manner as the tonguesS. The filler material squeezes into the open portions of -the slot 12 and thus further assists in permanently securing the material in place. 'Ihe open spaces Which are left by striking up the tongues 8 function in the same manner as the Y percentage ofthe squeaks and rattlesoccasioned yby ordinary running board construc-V f tion. Furthermore, they provide an exceed@V ingly strong side bumper for the vehicles.

I have illustrated and described the present preferred form of my invention, butit will be understood that it is not thus limited, as

Y it ,may be otherwise embodied Within the scope lof the followingclaims.

Iclaim- 'Y f 1. A'grating structure formed of girder barsand cross bars, Athe cross bars lying 1n planes generally perpendicular to the top of c the Ygrating but having laterally offsetiportions, anda filler material inthe spaces be-V 2. A grating' structure fformed of girder bars having crooked slots therein and cross bars forced intothe slots, the portions of the cross bars lying in the slots being permanently deformed so as to secure the cross bars 'Y andthe -girder bars together, and a filler materia'liinthe Aspaces `between tionsrof the cross bars; Y

VIn testimony whereofr Ilhave hereuntowset HARRYV NAGVIN.;v

my hand. ,Y

Figure 7 shows amodified structureyvhere-V in Wires 14 are laced through the slots which i holdthe cross bars 3 Lin place. As shown at the -right hand side of Figure 7, the Wires are lput in place in the slots before the cross bars 3 are inserted. When the cross bars VVare forced in place,z the Wires are pushed to the bottom of the slots and are firmly clamped therein. VAt the edges of the gratingthe Wires arev held in place byrwelding, as indicated at Y the bars, theme13 materialbeing engaged by the deformed por-.-

'so tween the members, the offset'portions form-V Y ingbackings for the -ller material.

15. The filler material is made ofsuch depth vthat the Wires are completely embedded.

Figure S'shoivs projecting beads or heads 16 A :for providing positive backing for the filler material. vThese beadsare made by touching the sides of the cross bar with an electric Welding stick.`

Figure 9'shoWs a deformed barhaving all ternate ridges 17 and recesses 18 which form a lock for filler material. Y

` *In all forms of the invention, thefiller material cooperates With the grating structure .forwautomobiles, as they eliminate a large 

